Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The story of The Active Eye contemporary photo exhibition, 1975.

By 1975, the Manawatū Art Gallery had established a reputation for presenting diverse and innovative exhibitio...

Creator:      Jaime Ridge and Ralph Body
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          April 5, 2025

These negatives come from a file compiled by M. D. (David) Evans when working for the PNCC Planning Department. Evans was employed as planning assistant from 1955 to 1968, Deputy City Planner from 1968 to 1978 and Senior Planning Officer (Design a...

Creator:      Palmerston North City Council, Planner's Department
Place:          4 Innes Place, Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1987

These images are part of the Elmar Studios negative collection. Although no accompanying information is held in the collection, this building has been identified by Manawatū Heritage user as Huntly Private Hotel. The building was moved elsewhere i...

Creator:      Elmar Studios, 459 Main Street, Palmerston North
Place:          Rangitikei Street, Featherston Street corner - Palmerston North
Date:          1965

Children stand on the railway sidings at Longburn. The sidings were a short distance north-west of the freezing works (visible in the background) and used for loading and unloading sheep and cattle.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Longburn, Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1915

Letter from Palmerston North to Mrs Margaret Loveday and her son Alan in London. The letter refers to their move out of London, due to the commencement of World War Two. The writer also talks about the effects of the war on Palmerston North and Ne...

Creator:      Unknown
Date:          September 8, 1939

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. The life of Elworthy Thomas Doddrell (1868-1950). Employed by Collinson and Cunninghame in 1910, he suggested to the store owners that they install a Christmas grotto, ...

Creator:      Tina White
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          December 18, 2010

A poster advertising a concert by The Melancholy Babes at Snails. This concert was part of a North Island tour supporting the release of the trio's fourth album on iiii Records, "Shingles." The Melancholy Babes is comprised of Jeff Henderson (r...

Creator:      unknown
Place:          103 Taonui St, Palmerston North
Date:          November 2, 2018

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. Women in the 1930s-1950s sewed and mended clothes and other household items by hand and on sewing machines. The heritage textile items created are now sought after at a...

Creator:      Tina White
Place:          Manawatū
Date:          December 4, 2010

Cherry blossoms on George Street.

Creator:      Heather Glasgow
Place:          

Part 6 of 6. Mark Kilsby recalls unusual theatre experiences and roles.
 He acted in two different plays on the same evening.
 He raced between theatres and changed costumes quickly.
 One role was a hairy godmother, an...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          July 28, 2026

Part 5 of 6. Mark Kilsby has assisted theatre productions at Boys High since 2007.
 He helped students with acting and stage performance skills.
 He preferred co-directing rather than leading alone.
 Junior musical the...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          July 21, 2026

Part 4 of 6. Mark Kilsby shared stories from acting and volunteer work.
 He took part as a Hobbit at a Wellington film premiere.
 A protest stopped his chance to walk the red carpet.
 He spent the day waiting in costum...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          July 14, 2026

Part 3 of 6. Mark Kilsby performed in 18 consecutive Summer Shakespeare productions. 
 He developed a deep love for Shakespeare from childhood. 
 He also acted in Shakespeare plays at Centrepoint Theatre. 
&n...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          July 7, 2026

Part 2 of 6 Mark Kilsby spoke about his long involvement in theatre in Whanganui and Palmerston North.
 He acted with Four Seasons Theatre, Repertory Theatre and musical theatre groups.
 His first paid acting role earned him f...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          June 30, 2026

Part 1 of 6. Mark Kilsby developed a lifelong love of theatre through his mother’s acting interests.
 As a child he attended plays in Palmerston North, including Shakespeare productions.
 He learned speech and drama, once know...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          June 23, 2026

Part 2 of 2 Jacquie Nutt described growing up in Zimbabwe before moving to South Africa in 2000.
 Her daughter’s serious illness inspired her to rethink life and pursue lactation work.
 She became a lactation consultant after ...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          June 16, 2026

Part 1 of 2 Jacquie Nutt set up a human milk bank in Palmerston North.
 She had already created two milk banks in South Africa.
 She moved to New Zealand in 2015 as a lactation consultant.
 Jackie says breastfeeding is...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          June 9, 2026

Part 4 of 4. Strong rural community around Halcombe in the 1970s
 Family farmed sheep, cattle, crops and grains
 Deep involvement in Halcombe School life
 PTA, school board and teaching roles
 Small rural schoo...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Feilding
Date:          June 2, 2026

Part 3 of 4. Marion Abiss describes her involvement with the Experiment in International Living 
 It was a global cultural exchange bringing visitors into New Zealand homes
 Students and adults stayed with host families f...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Feilding
Date:          May 26, 2026

Part 2 of 4. Floral art began for Marion Abiss in the 1980s from a love of gardening
 She joined the Feilding Floral Art Group through friends
 Floral art involves creativity beyond simple flower arranging
 Themes guid...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Feilding
Date:          May 19, 2026

Part 1 of 4. Marion Abiss recalls growing up in Feilding during the 1940s
 She walked to Lytton Street School with other local children
 Schools were simple, with cold rooms and oiled wooden floors
 Children brought sa...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Feilding
Date:          May 12, 2026

This photograph album depicts wide range of images of the Monrad family and ‘Kaingahou’, and includes photos of the Kendall family who owned ‘Kaingahou’ at one time.

Ditlev Gothard Monrad (1811–1887) was a prominent figure in nineteenth-century D...

Date:          1866 to 1970s

Family photograph album, including images of family members, scenes around Palmerston North, animals, music, sport, soldiers, "Huanui" (boat at Foxton), Foxton, Maori Battalion (1940) and farm scenes.

Creator:      Newth family
Place:          Manawatū
Date:          circa 1940 to circa 1950

Beth Thompson's album. Beth was the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (nee Macauley) Thompson. Album contains photographs of Beth throughout her younger life, Macauley and Thompson families and Maurice and Elayne Thompson (siblings). Also contains...

Creator:      Thompson - Macauley families
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1917 to circa 1992

Philip Fowler travelled to England to serve as a pilot with the Royal Naval Air Service, during World War One.

This photograph album appears to hold images from his life not long after his return to New Zealand, when he went on to fly passengers...

Creator:      Philip Fowler
Place:          New Zealand
Date:          192X

A photograph album from Alexander Clark LTD, a Palmerston North-based home and commercial decoration business. Images include shop displays, parade floats, price lists, staff at work and at social events, and work projects.

Creator:      Alexander Clark LTD
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1920 to 1967

Contains photographs of Beth, Maurice and Elayne Thompson and their parents, Elizabeth and Charles, on their farm in Milson Line, family activities, holidays and Macauley relations. Charles Thompson and Elizabeth Macauley married in 1929 and had t...

Creator:      Various
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1925 to circa 1949

A photograph album from Alexander Clark LTD, a Palmerston North-based home and commercial decoration business. Images include shop displays, staff at work and at social events, and work projects.

Creator:      Alexander Clark LTD
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1965 to 1979

Album contains photos of the Dumbleton family, extended families and holidays in New Zealand and England. Most images not identified. Not in chronological order. The name Mina Dumbleton is handwritten inside the front cover.

The Dumbleton family ...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Various
Date:          circa 1910 to circa 1965

Album contains photos of the Dumbleton family and extended families. Many are unidentified. Not in chronological order.

The Dumbleton family lived in Cook Street. There were four daughters: Mina; Eileen, who married and became Eileen Ward; Olive...

Creator:      Dumbleton Family
Place:          Various
Date:          circa 1910 to 1963